Talk Report – Spring Time All The Time: The ever-flowering tropical garden – Dr Francis Ng

In much of the tropics where there are no pronounced dry periods or seasonal variation in temperature, maintaining a garden that is continuously in bloom and colourful can be a challenge. Prominent Malaysian botanist and horticulturist, Dr. Francis Ng, was in Sandakan to share his experience in creating and maintaining a colourful garden throughout the year. His talk entitled Spring Time All The Time: The ever-flowering tropical garden was held at the Duchess of Kent Hospital on the 23rd of June. It was attended by 32 persons, including friends of members.
Dr. Francis Ng was formerly the Deputy Director General of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia. He has contributed significantly to the documentation of the tree flora of the Malay Peninsula, as well as Borneo. In the early 1990s, he served with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome. This was followed by several years in Bogor, Indonesia at the Center of International Forestry Research (CIFOR). He now makes gardens and practices as a consultant botanist. His most recent publication is a book called Tropical Horticulture and Gardening.